Mr Beckers, 76, from Sandfields, Swansea, joined the now-defunct South Wales Transport in 1966 as an 18-year-old conductor after just two days of training.
Three years later, when he turned 21 and was legally allowed to drive a bus, he began his journey as a driver.
Since then, Kenny, who has four children with his supportive wife, Linda and eight grandchildren is now in semi-retirement works two days a week. Looking back he estimates he has driven seven million passengers and travelled approximately 800,000 miles.
He fondly recalls driving in the early years from Brunswick Street depot in Swansea in the1960s and 1970s when he would regularly pick up members of Swansea City football team en route to their training ground.
“It was great being a driver in 1969,” he says. “We had so many routes and carried so many passengers, including lots from all the factories, the collieries and British Steel at Port Talbot, but, of course, all that declined in the 1980s.
“I also remember we had double-deckers back then, but passengers were only allowed to smoke on the top deck. Upstairs was like a mist. All the factory girls and everybody else was up there smoking, it was unbelievable.”
“It’s great to see services increasing again in Swansea, as the key to getting people back on the bus is by putting on more services, but I completely understand that it’s a fine line. But, things are definitely picking up, and that’s great news.”
Despite being in his late 70s, Kenny, however, has no plans however to stop doing what he loves so much.
“Once my body feels like enough is enough then I’ll give up, but I don’t like putting a time on things. I’ve seen people put times on stuff, and then everything goes haywire for a time. I don’t want to put a date on it.
“In all my years working I’ve never really thought about giving up the job, and I can honestly say I’ve never had that moment of ‘I’ve had enough, I’m off’. So long as I feel good and my health’s good, then I’ll keep going.”
[Lead image: First Bus]
